Xballoon o or aerial ship



(N9 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. THAYER.

BALLOON 0R AERIAL SHIP.

No. 309,008. Patented Dec. 9, 1884.

N. PETERS. Fholu-Liihngmphnr. Washinglnm Ii 0.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

R. THAYER.

BALLOON OR AERIAL SHIP.

No. 309,008. Patented Dec. 9, 1884.

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RUSSELL THAYER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BALLOON OR AERIAL SHIP.

ZJPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 309,008, datedDecember 9, 1.884.

Application filedNovclnbcr 23. 1853.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. RUssnLL Truman, of the city of Philadelphia, countyof Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvementin Balloons or Aerial Ships, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to balloons or aerial ships; and it consistsin providing the same with devices to produce and maintain a supply ofgas or vapor in areeeiver and force the same from adischarging-nozzle atthe rear of the balloon or air-ship under considerable pressure, wherebyan unstable equilibrium of forces generated by the compressed as or a bI vapor in the receptacle 18 produced, and in details of construction,all of which are fully set forth in the following specification andshown in the accompanying drawings, which form part thereof.

The object of this invention is to providea balloon or aerial ship withsimple and effective means for navigating the same, irrespective of theair-currents in which it floats, whereby a great velocity is attainedand the vessel made manageable; further, to dispense with the usuallarge wind-wheels or 2tl1-p1'Op@llCl'S, and all such devices which arebulky, unmanageable, and require a grr'rat power to work them.

In order to move in the air,f[ develop forces in unstable equilibriumacting upon the stru cture itself, and producing a resultant power whichwill cause the ship to movein the direc tion in which said resultant ismadeto act.

In the motor hcrc described for aerial navigal-ion the i mpact ot'thcescaping air underhigh pressure against the particles of the surrounding air in which the body is floating tends to increase the resultantaction forward; but the principal portion of the motion forward iscaused by the continuous condition of unstable equilibrium of forces,producing a resultant action ,as above described.in a given direction.The reaction resulting from the impact of the escaping gas upon theparticles of the surrounding medium is small in comparison with theresultant of the forces in unstable equilibrium, but slight as itis itacts in the proper direction. I regard the aperture at the rear of themotor mainly as a means for the escape of the wasted energy. I ts sizeis so (No model.)

prop ortioncd as to produce the maximum con ditions of unstableequilibrium of forces.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved navigableaerial ship. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the upperor machine deck. Fig. 3is a plan view of the, lower or boiler deck, and Fig. 4 is an elevation(partin section) showing the mechanism for making the aerial ship riseor descend in the air.

A is the balloon proper or gas-receptacle, and is preferably madecigar-shaped and filled with hydrogen gas.

B is the net-work which surrounds the balloon A, and carries by ropes Cthe machinedecl; D, to the under part of which is supported theboiler-deck E.

F is the rudder, which may be formed likea mainsail ot' a yacht, and ismoved by'tillerropes G, which pass around blocks g, and i are secured tothe tiller-wheel H I ward part of the deck I). I I are the boilers, andJ is the smokepipe. I which may extend downward, as shown, and deliverthe smoke below the deck E, so as to allow the upper deck to remainclear and prel vent injury to the silk or other material constitutingthe balloon proper. K is a steam air-compressor in which air 5 iscompressed and delivered by a pipe, L, to a reservoir, M, under highpressure. From thereservoir M it allowed to rush through thedischarging-nozzleN with any desired velocity, which is regulated bymeans of the valve a. ll" desired, the end N of the nozzle N may behinged or pivoted on a universal joint, as at N so that by setting saidpivoted section at an angle the vessel may be quickly turned or made totravel in a curved line and raised or lowered at will. This may be usedin conjunction with the rudder F, and will be zulvantageous,particularly when traveling with the wind. I

In place of using the intermediate reservoir, M, the air may be forceddirect from the compressor into the discharging nozzle or pipe, whichextends out of the rear of the ship and below the rudder;

the pulsations ol' the discharged air due to the intermittent action ofthe compressor will not be felt by the ship, and as the air in thereceiver exerts an equal and opposite pressure on all sides, except inthe rear,where the disin the forbut by using a reservoir charging-nozzleis placed, and which, if it were not for said nozzle, would have been 1nstable equilibrium, is now unstable, the

' vessel is propelled with a force equal to the difference in pressureon the front and back of the said reservoir and the reactionary effectof the compressed air uponthe atmosphere in its eXit.

The exhaust-steam from the compressor K may be condensed in a condenser,O, and pumped back'into the boilers I; The condenser may be kept cool bycirculation ot'a refrigerating-liquid cooledin a refrigerator,l?, andcirculated by a pump, Q; or thesteam may be condensed by a chemicalrefrigerator alone.

It is advisable to use the condensed steam,as the consumption of waterwould vary the burden of the vessel, and cause it to rise when notdesired, and to prevent this it would be necessary to allowan'equivalent of the hydrogen gas to escape.

To regulate thevertical travel of the balloon or ship in the air withoutvarying the tension in the receptacle A, I provide the said receptaclewith a smaller flexible receptacle, A, located within the larger.

. R is a strong reservoir into which hydrogen gasis forced under veryhigh pressure.

Sis a compressor or force-pump which may be operated by steam or handpower.

tis a'pipe connecting with the receptacle or balloon A, and has twobranches, t t", proand also with a vided with valves, one of whichconnects with the hydrogentank R and the other with the suction of thecompressor S.

W is an air-suction pipe for the compressor, and is also provided with avalve.

U is an air-pipe connecting the air receptacle A with the discharge ofthe compressor by a pipe,V, which is provided with a valve.discharge-pipe, \V, provided with a valve,which pipe opens into theatmosphere. The discharge of the compressor is also connected by avalve-pipe, V, with the hydrogen-tank It.

To ascend, air is allowed to escape by pipe WV from vessel or bag A, andhydrogen is passed into the receptacle A from tank R by pipes t it untilthe receptacle A is filled out. To descend, hydrogen is allowed toescape into the atmosphere from balloon or receptacle A, or is drawnthrough pipes 16 t and forced into the tank It by compressor S and pipeV, l

and air is then sucked in pipe W and forced 'by compressor S throughpipes V and U into bag A to fill out the receptacle A, as before.

In place of air,any other gasasbisulph1deof-carbon vapor-may be forcedthrough nozzle N. 1

I. do not limit myself to the details of construction, as my inventioncomprehends the application of air, gas, stable equilibrium in areceiver and allowed to escape in the rear of an. aerial ship in topropel the same forward.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in an aerial ship, of the hydrogen or gas receptaclemade oblong or cigar -shaped, decks, ropes connecting said decks withsaid gas-receptacle, boilers I, and air-compressor K,supported upon saiddecks,a dischargingpipe, N, extending rearward and derF, arranged abovesaid discharging-pipe and below the gas-receptacle, substantially as andfor the purpose specified.

2. The combination, in an aerial ship, of the hydrogen or gasreceptacle, made oblong or cigar-shaped, decks, ropes connecting saiddecks with said gas-receptacle, boilers I, reservoir M, anair-compressor, K, supported upon said decks, a pipe connecting saidreservoir with said compressor, adisehargingpipe, N, extending rearwardand connecting with said compressor through said reservoir, and therudder F, arranged above said discharging-pipe and below thegas-receptacle, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

The combination of gas receptacle A O. K with theinner receptacle, A, ahydrogen-tank,

R, a compressor, S, and connecting-pipes and valves by which the gas maybe transferred to or from receptacle A and air to or from receptacle A,substantially as and for the l purpose specified.

4. An aerial ship formed with an oblong or cigar-shaped gas-receptacle,and supporting a reservoir into which air is forced under pressure, andan adjustable discharge-nozzle opening projecting rearwardly from theballoon or aerial ship, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony of which invention I here- ,unto set my hand.

\Vitnesses:

NATHL. E. JANNEY, Jos. J. Knox.

RUSSELL THAYER.

or vapor kept in unorder from the rear end of said reservoir and

